| Sunday, October 12, 2008 7:26 PM CDT |
Bat found at Mansfield Elementary gym tests postive for rabies
MANSFIELD -- A bat was found in the Mansfield Elementary gymnasium Thursday and later tested positive for rabies, the Blue Ridge School District reported to parents and staff via the school's phone notification system and posted on the school's Web site over the weekend.
There is no indication that any students came in contact with the bat, the district reported.
The bat was found after coming in contact with the foot of a teacher, the statement said. The bat was captured and turned over to the Piatt County Animal Control officer for identification and testing. The district also notified the DeWitt-Piatt B-County Health Department, the statement said.
The teacher who came into contact with the bat is receiving precautionary medical treatment to prevent rabies infection.
School officials immediately employed wildlife removal experts to examine the school and work is in progress to prevent future entries by bats into the building, the posting said.
No evidence of other bats was found and school will resume as scheduled on Tuesday, the statement said.
The superintendent of the district, Jay Harnack, was not immediately available for comment.
Mansfield Elementary is part of the Blue Ridge school district and instructs the district’s fourth through sixth grade students.
Steve Hoffman contributed to this report.
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